A Message from the Provost: Week of 5.04.26

Leading Together:  A Message from the Provost

 

May 7 | 2026
 
Dear Colleagues,

 

We’re in the home stretch of the semester, and Wyoming keeps throwing us its springtime curveballs – I hope you enjoyed our Cinco de Mayo snowstorm or at least the water it brought! Next week is Finals Week, and I can’t thank you all enough for the hard and good work you’ve done all year. 

 

As you saw from the campus communication on Monday, we were very pleased to share that four outstanding finalists have been selected for the next dean of UW-Casper. This is an important leadership role for our branch campus, and I am grateful to the search committee for their thoughtful and thorough work in identifying a strong pool of candidates.

The finalists are Michael Childers, Jerry Hawkes, Angela Pool-Funai, and Matthew Muterspaugh. UW-Casper plays a vital role in serving students and communities across Wyoming, and I encourage you to participate in the campus presentations if you are able. You can find more information at this news link. Your input is an important part of this process, and we welcome feedback after each visit. 

 

I also want to recognize the incredible work of Interim Vice Provost Shelley Dodd and the Admissions team, along with the many colleagues across campus who contributed to this year’s New Student Days. We received exceptional feedback from a visiting parent and school superintendent, who described the experience as “excellent, excellent” and praised the energy, organization, and care shown throughout the day. It is clear that these events are making a meaningful impression on prospective students and their families and, importantly, helping them see themselves here at UW. This kind of coordinated, student-centered effort reflects the very best of our institution. Thank you to everyone who helped make these visits so impactful.

 

I’m also pleased to share that Dr. Mia Kim Williams has been selected for the Google + GSV Higher Ed Leader Fellowship cohort. This distinguished cohort brings together higher education leaders and innovators from across the continent. Through this fellowship, Dr. Williams is contributing to a forward-looking research-to-practice initiative that integrates AI and human-centered design to strengthen teaching, innovation, and student pathways. You can read more about it at this [LinkedIn] link. Congratulations to Dr. Williams on this well-deserved recognition.

 

Just a reminder that our Board of Trustees will meet next week, starting on Monday, with budget hearings and lots more on the agenda, which you can find at this [Trustees web site] link. 

 

Thank you, as always, for your continued commitment to our students, our colleagues, and the mission of the University of Wyoming. I am continually grateful for the thoughtfulness, energy, and care you bring to this work.

 

With appreciation,

Anne

 

Email: provost@uwyo.edu | Phone: (307) 766-6476 
University of Wyoming
1000 East University Avenue Laramie, WY, 82071